The cast of prison drama The Shawshank Redemption reunited at a special event this week (beg17Nov14) to mark 20 years since the film's release. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins joined director Frank Darabont at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California on Tuesday night (18Nov14) to celebrate the 1994 movie with a screening and question-and-answer session.
The event was hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organisation behind the Oscars, and the stars regaled the audience with anecdotes from their time on set.
Robbins revealed that while filming his character's escape scene, he was drenched and covered in real cow manure, while Darabont admitted he was asked to change his original ending because audiences felt short-changed when the picture concluded before the two main characters reunited on the outside.
He told the crowd, "The original script ended with Red (Freeman's character) on the bus, uncertain but hopeful about the future; that's the way the story (Stephen King's original short story) ended. But (studio executives told me), 'After two-plus hours of hell, you might owe them that reunion.'"
The movie failed to win any of the seven Academy Awards for which it was nominated, but became a classic through word-of-mouth and is now a regular fixture in lists of the best films of all time.

WENN/WENN
Celebrities including Morgan Freeman, Robert Pattinson and Channing Tatum honoured late Hollywood stars Robin Williams and Lauren Bacall at an exclusive charity dinner on Thursday (14Aug14).
The actors attended the Grants Banquet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California for the handing out of donations to more than 40 non-profit entertainment industry-related organisations and scholarship programs. The grants, which totalled $1.9 million (£1.1 million), are funded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the committee behind the Golden Globe Awards.
At the gala, celebrities took a moment to remember Williams and Bacall, who both passed away this week (beg11Aug14), with a round of applause.
Actress Kristen Bell, who was among the guests at the event, writes in a post on Twitter.com, "Kudos to #HFPA #hfpaGrantBanquet this eve for honouring Robin Williams and Lauren Bacall w/a (with a) moment of not silence but applause."
During the gala, Bell also performed the song Do You Want To Build A Snowman? from hit Disney movie Frozen. Kerry Washington, Chris Evans, Jason Segel, Eddie Redmayne, James Marsden and Sofia Vergara also attended the event.
Williams died of an apparent suicide on Monday (11Aug14) and Bacall passed away following a stroke on Tuesday (12Aug14).

Splash News
Funnyman Steve Martin has led tributes to his pal Robin Williams, following the Mrs. Doubtfire star's death on Monday (11Aug14). Williams was found dead in his home in Marin County, California. He was 63. Reports suggest he committed suicide.
Martin took to Twitter.com on Monday afternoon, shortly after the sad news broke and wrote, "I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul."
David Steinberg, Williams' manager for 35 years, said in a statement: "Nobody made the world laugh like Robin Williams. My brother, my friend, my soul mate, I will miss you."
Cher added, "Oh Robin... He was Sweet LOVELY,Man. He ran high voltage,Mind Always Going, It was who he was.I Know Well..Many X's from High There is Only Low.So Sad", while Williams' Mrs. Doubtfire co-star Mara Wilson writes, "Very sad, very upset, very glad I did not have to hear about this though Twitter. Probably going to be taking some time off it for a while."
Genie. You're free. pic.twitter.com/FWQWPDPP42
— Evan Rachel Wood (@evanrachelwood) August 11, 2014
Other Twitter tributes have come from Johnny Depp, Michael J. Fox, Rihanna, Rita Wilson, Steve Carell, Jared Leto, Morgan Freeman, Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Cryer, John Cusack, Jenny McCarthy, Logan Lerman, Evan Rachel Wood, Sharon &amp; Jack Osbourne, Pink, Ellen DeGeneres, Rose McGowan, Shannen Doherty, Josh Groban, Eddie Izzard, Eric Idle, Ashley Tisdale, Marlee Matlin, Mandy Moore, John Krasinski, and Mia Farrow, who posted, "No! Robin Williams you were so loved."
Miley Cyrus never met Williams, but admits the news of his death hit her hard: "I can't take the Robin Williams news. I've never cried over someone I've never met but I can't stop."
And Lindsay Lohan adds, "Mr. Williams visited me the first day of filming The Parent Trap. I will never forget his kindness. What an enormous loss. My condolences."
His former co-stars Henry Winkler and Minnie Driver were also among the first celebrities to pay tribute to Williams. Happy Days star Winkler wrote, "To watch him create on the spot was a privilege to behold... Robin you are an angel now !!! REST IN PEACE", while his Good Will Hunting castmate Driver added, "My Heart's broken. Robin was a beautiful, kind soul. Can't bear that he's gone. So incredibly sorry for his family."
One of the late funnyman's final co-stars, Joel McHale, states, "RIP @robinwilliams. You were one of the very best that ever was. You were one of my heroes."
And Williams' Mork &amp; Mindy co-star Pam Dawber, who recently reteamed with Williams in U.S. TV comedy The Crazy Ones, has revealed she's "devastated" by the sad news of her longtime friend's death. The actor's The Crazy Ones co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar simply posted nine photos of herself with Williams on Twitter.com.
Other thoughtful words came from Glee stars Chord Overstreet and Lea Michele, who wrote, "So heartbreaking to hear the terribly sad news about the amazing Robin Williams, thank you for bringing so much laughter and joy to us all", and Kevin Spacey, who added, "Robin Williams made the world laugh &amp; think. I will remember &amp; honor that. A great man, artist and friend. I will miss him beyond measure."
He made us laugh. He made us cry. He ended up touching every element of the human spirit. #RIPRobinWilliams pic.twitter.com/kbEq7OwPOf
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 12, 2014
U.S. President Barack Obama also acknowledged the entertainer's impact to people all over the world in a statement which reads: "Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan and everything in between. "But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien - but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most - from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalised on our own streets. "The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin's family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams."
Meanwhile, a tribute has been posted on a billboard outside Los Angeles' Laugh Factory, where Williams often performed. It reads: "Robin Williams. Rest in Peace. Make God laugh."

Former child star Mona Freeman has died, aged 87. The actress, who starred in films like The Heiress, Dear Ruth and I Was a Shoplifter in the 1940s and 1950s, passed away at her home in Beverly Hills on Friday (06Jun14), according to the Los Angeles Times.
Her movie credits also include Till We Meet, Again Together Again, Mother Wore Tights, Streets of Laredo and Angel Face, while her TV roles included appearances in Maverick, Perry Mason and Wagon Train.
The fresh-faced star played teenagers onscreen throughout her twenties and then quit to become a portrait painter.
Her daughter Monnie Ellis, who confirmed the sad news of her mother's death, starred in the 1972 TV movie Gidget Gets Married.

Hit shows Fargo, Masters Of Sex and The Big Bang Theory and TV movie The Normal Heart will be the projects to beat at the 2014 Critics' Choice Television Awards after scoring five nominations apiece.
Fargo, which is based on the cult Coen Brothers film of the same name, will compete for Best Mini-Series against shows like American Horror Story: Coven, Luther and Dancing on the Edge, while the dark drama's stars Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton will go head-to-head for Best Actor in a Movie or Mini-Series, alongside Mark Ruffalo (The Normal Heart), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock: His Last Vow), David Bradley (An Adventure in Space and Time), and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dancing on the Edge). Colin Hanks and Allison Tolman have also earned nods as supporting actors for their roles as local law enforcement officers investigating a spate of grisly murders in Fargo.
Masters of Sex and The Good Wife, which landed four nominations, dominate the drama categories - both shows are up for Best Drama Series, while stars Lizzy Caplan and Julianna Margulies are shortlisted for Best Actress and Caplan's co-star Michael Sheen is up for Best Actor.
The Big Bang Theory looks set to dominate the comedy categories with nods for Best Comedy Series and acting mentions for Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Mayim Bialik and guest star James Earl Jones.
Meanwhile, the TV adaptation of Larry Kramer's play The Normal Heart, which debuted in America on Sunday night (25May14), was also a big hit with members of the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, scoring recognition for Best TV Movie and acting accolades for Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer and Joe Mantello. There were also a handful of nominations for True Detective, Orange Is the New Black, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones and The Americans.
The winners of the fourth annual Critics' Choice Television Awards will be unveiled at a ceremony in Beverly Hills, California on 19 June (14).

DreamWorks
For the bulk of every Rocky and Bullwinkle episode, moose and squirrel would engage in high concept escapades that satirized geopolitics, contemporary cinema, and the very fabrics of the human condition. With all of that to work with, there's no excuse for why the pair and their Soviet nemeses haven't gotten a decent movie adaptation. But the ingenious Mr. Peabody and his faithful boy Sherman are another story, intercut between Rocky and Bullwinkle segments to teach kids brief history lessons and toss in a nearly lethal dose of puns. Their stories and relationship were much simpler, which means that bringing their shtick to the big screen would entail a lot more invention — always risky when you're dealing with precious material.
For the most part, Mr. Peabody &amp; Sherman handles the regeneration of its heroes aptly, allowing for emotionally substance in their unique father-son relationship and all the difficulties inherent therein. The story is no subtle metaphor for the difficulties surrounding gay adoption, with society decreeing that a dog, no matter how hyper-intelligent, cannot be a suitable father. The central plot has Peabody hosting a party for a disapproving child services agent and the parents of a young girl with whom 7-year-old Sherman had a schoolyard spat, all in order to prove himself a suitable dad. Of course, the WABAC comes into play when the tots take it for a spin, forcing Peabody to rush to their rescue.
Getting down to personals, we also see the left brain-heavy Peabody struggle with being father Sherman deserves. The bulk of the emotional marks are hit as we learn just how much Peabody cares for Sherman, and just how hard it has been to accept that his only family is growing up and changing.
DreamWorks
But more successful than the new is the film's handling of the old — the material that Peabody and Sherman purists will adore. They travel back in time via the WABAC Machine to Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, and the Trojan War, and 18th Century France, explaining the cultural backdrop and historical significance of the settings and characters they happen upon, all with that irreverent (but no longer racist) flare that the old cartoons enjoyed. And oh... the puns.
Mr. Peabody &amp; Sherman is a f**king treasure trove of some of the most amazingly bad puns in recent cinema. This effort alone will leave you in awe.
The film does unravel in its final act, bringing the science-fiction of time travel a little too close to the forefront and dropping the ball on a good deal of its emotional groundwork. What seemed to be substantial building blocks do not pay off in the way we might, as scholars of animated family cinema, have anticipated, leaving the movie with an unfinished feeling.
But all in all, it's a bright, compassionate, reasonably educational, and occasionally funny if not altogether worthy tribute to an old favorite. And since we don't have our own WABAC machine to return to a time of regularly scheduled Peabody and Sherman cartoons, this will do okay for now.
If nothing else, it's worth your time for the puns.
3/5
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If we had it our way, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler would host every awards show from now until the end of time. Not only are they smart, hilarious, charming, adorable, and less off-putting than Seth McFarlane, they’re also the best of friends. It’s incredibly fun watching two people who adore each other get up on stage and make us all laugh. As the best role models any of us could hope to have, we can learn a lot from these ladies about life, love, and friendship.
You should always be honest about what you want to do at night. If you’d rather drink wine and watch Netflix, that’s totally cool and we support your decision.
Via
But if you’re into going out with your best friend, that’s cool too. There’s not shame in it!
Via
You should never be an angry drunk — always a classy drunk. But if someone tries to start a fight with you or your best friend, you have to have each other’s backs.
Via
You should always make fun of your friends — very publicly (like at an awards show broadcast to millions of people) and, if possible, by acting like a child in eveningwear.
Via
Of course, if at all possible, you should always have a silly dance party with your BFF because why not? (Your moves are awesome.)
Via
You should always remember that when the world sucks and everything seems awful, your friends will stand by your side (looking fabulous).
Via
You should always share the spotlight — and if your BFF is center stage, always photobomb them.
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You should never let other people tell you what to do (but if you need advice).
Via
Just remember, your best friend will always think you’re awesome –
Via
And beautiful and hilarious. (And you might have a friendship that makes others feel uncomfortable, but who cares! At least someone gets you.)
Via
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WireImage
Jenji Kohan, best known for creating Showtime’s Weeds and the Netflix series Orange is the New Black, has signed on to develop a period drama for HBO. The Hollywood Reporter recently learned the new series will take place in Massachusetts during the Salem Witch Trials. According to THR, the drama “explores the circumstances surrounding one of the most compelling chapters in American history, when intolerance and repression set neighbor against neighbor and led a town to mass hysteria.”
As we’ve said before, witches are very in this season, so we’re not exactly surprised, but we are delighted. While we can’t get enough of awesome witches, we’re most excited that Kohan is spearheading the project because she has certainly won us over with her work on Weeds and Orange is the New Black. Both series are beloved by fans of TV and critics alike so we’re sure Kohan’s new Salem drama will be as well.
From what we can tell, after hearing about the new series, we’re going to get something that is a mix of Orange is the New Black, American Horror Story: Coven, and Game of Thrones. To be honest, that sounds a like an absolutely perfect show. Unfortunately though, as the show is still in the developing stages, we’re not sure exactly when it will hit TV.
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Vera Anderson/Getty
We all know Lea Michele can sing. Actually, stating that Lea Michele can sing is an understatement: that girl can belt it out like no one else. Since her days as Wendla Bergmann in Spring Awakening, it’s been clear that Michele is one of the most talented singers of her generation. So it wasn’t surprising when she landed the lead role on Glee as Rachel Berry. Now, Michele is branching out into pop music. The artist’s first solo album, Louder, will be released on March 14, but her first single, “Cannonball,” has already hit the airwaves.
Whenever actors or actresses try to widen their horizons into music, we all get a little scared. Remember when Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan released their own albums? (Arguably, LiLo’s wasn’t too bad.) But in the history of Hollywood, actors trying to become pop stars don’t always work out.
At least Michele’s got major talent right? Sure, but being a pop star is a whole other ballgame. Lady Gaga and Ke$ha have beautiful voices, but they rarely showcase those talents in their upbeat pop tracks. So we’re wondering if Michele can rein it in to become the queen of pop music.
From what we can tell, she’s off to a good start with “Cannonball.” It demonstrates her voice very well while also keeping true to pop music. And we’ll be honest: it got us dancing in our seats.
Michele has conquered Broadway, TV, and we’re pretty sure she’s poised to join the ranks of Katy Perry and Rihanna. Check out “Cannonball” below to judge for yourself.
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FOX
Although fans of Happy Endings were sad to see the show cancelled by ABC this past spring, one of the stars, Adam Pally, has landed a new gig as Doctor Peter Prentice on Fox’s The Mindy Project. (Although unfortunately, now The Mindy Project itself is being put on hiatus until Brooklyn 9-9 finishes its freshman season in Mindy's former timeslot.) Peter was hired at Mindy’s practice to replace Paul Leotard (guest star James Franco) who was brought on to replace Mindy when she went to Haiti at the end of season one; whew, that was complicated. Now, Peter is a permanent fixture at the doctor’s office and we couldn’t be happier.
Since joining the cast early in the show’s second season, Pally has brought a new kind of raunchy, frat-boy humor to The Mindy Project, which the show was sorely lacking. Recently, Peter convinced Morgan, a nurse at the practice, to sext one of Mindy’s love interests on her behalf when they found her phone. Pally had one of the best lines of the whole episode — maybe the whole season — when he said, “If a girl doesn’t respond to me immediately, she’s either stuck-up, dead, or living in an elevator, all three of which are deal breakers.”
Even for those of us who were huge fans of The Mindy Project before Pally joined the cast, he has quickly become one of our favorite characters — surpassing Betsy and Beverly, who haven’t been around much this year. Dare we say it: he might even be funnier than Jeremy (and maybe even more charming since Jeremy has been going through some stuff recently.) Pally is certainly our favorite new character this season and we’re happy he’s going to stick around.
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